Jalla faults Dikko on controversial Ugborodo FIFA Project

By Olamilekan Israel.

A football stakeholder, Prince Harrison Jalla, has faulted the claim made by Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, that no one had received any payment directly from the FIFA Forward Funds.

Speaking in a statement, Jalla described Dikko’s remarks as “misleading and far from the truth.”

He explained that, contrary to Dikko’s public assertion, verifiable records show that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had indeed received and disbursed the FIFA Forward Funds through its Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

According to Jalla, the FIFA Forward Funds were paid directly into the NFF’s Central Bank account, which is under the control and supervision of the football body. He cited specific transaction details to back up his claim.

“On October 25, 2020, with reference number S47547746 and transaction details PHUB: FT 2029003132/CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, the sum of USD 262,116.28 was transferred to the First Bank account of the contractor handling the Ugborodo project as the first tranche payment,” Jalla revealed.

He further disclosed that another payment of USD 306,045.52 was made on May 7, 2021, to the same contractor through the same CBN account, adding that these were the only two payments made so far for the Ugborodo project.

Jalla explained that the level of work done on-site and the building materials currently wasting away clearly correspond with the total funds released so far.

“The project is sited in my maternal hometown, and I am speaking from first-hand knowledge,” he added.

He criticized Dikko for “defending corruption” within the NFF instead of focusing on his responsibilities as the Chairman of the NSC.

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“Dikko must stop defending the NFF. Nigerians already know that the NFF is corruption personified. He should focus on his duties as Chairman of the NSC and constitute the NSC Board without further delay. Dikko has spent one year as Chairman, running the NSC as a sole administrator,” Jalla stated.

Jalla also raised concerns about the inclusion of a $200,000 tax charge in the contract agreement between the NFF and the contractors handling both the Kebbi and Ugborodo projects, questioning the legitimacy of taxing FIFA funds.

“A sum of $200,000 each was inserted as tax but where in the world are FIFA funds taxable?” he asked rhetorically.

He further challenged the NFF and the NSC Chairman to account for the remaining funds meant for the completion of the Ugborodo project, emphasizing that transparency and accountability remain key to restoring credibility in Nigerian football administration.

“The simple question remains: Where is the balance of the money to complete the Ugborodo project?” Jalla asked.

He urged Dikko to prioritize the completion of the Ugborodo project rather than defending the NFF leadership, which, according to him, has been “repeatedly linked with mismanagement and financial impropriety.”

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